Tobacco compositions and preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

Methods of providing an infused tobacco composition including infusing a starting tobacco composition with volatilized ...components formed by heating a volatile component source, thereby retaining at least some volatile components in the starting tobacco composition. Also infused tobacco compositions, as well as aerosol delivery systems and components for use in aerosol delivery systems, including the infused tobacco compositions.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2021/052445, filed Sep. 21, 2021, which claims priority from GB Application No. 2014921.7, filed Sep. 22, 2020, each of which hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an infused tobacco composition, and to a method of providing an infused tobacco composition.

BACKGROUND

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Alternatives to these types of articles release compounds without burning to form an inhalable medium.

An example of such aerosol generating products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, a solid substrate material to form an inhalable aerosol. Another example of such aerosol generating products are so-called e-cigarette devices, which typically vaporize a liquid substrate to form an inhalable aerosol, wherein the liquid substrate may or may not contain nicotine. Hybrid devices are also known. Hybrid devices contain a liquid which is vaporized by heating to produce an inhalable vapor and/or aerosol. The liquid may contain flavorings and/or aerosol-generating substances, such as glycerol and in some instances, nicotine. The vapor and/or aerosol may pass through a substrate material in the device and entrains one or more constituents of the substrate material (such as tobacco) to produce an inhalable aerosol. Alternatively, the substrate material in the device may be independently heated to generate a further aerosol.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing an infused tobacco composition, the method comprising:

-   (a) providing a starting tobacco composition; -   (b) providing a volatile component source; -   (c) heating the volatile component source to provide volatilized     components; and -   (d) infusing the starting tobacco composition with the volatilized     components, thereby retaining at least some volatile components in     the starting tobacco composition to provide an infused tobacco     composition; wherein either:     -   the starting tobacco composition is a treated tobacco         composition and the treatment has adversely affected the sensory         and/or organoleptic qualities of the tobacco composition or     -   the infused tobacco material is treated and the treatment         adversely affects the sensory and/or organoleptic qualities of         the tobacco composition.

In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material is a pH-treated tobacco composition.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition is a pH-treated tobacco composition which comprises tobacco that has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, such that the infused tobacco composition provided in (d) is an infused pH-treated tobacco composition, or the infused tobacco composition of (d) is treated to raise the pH of the infused tobacco composition, thereby providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition.

In some embodiments, in (c) the volatile component source is heated from 40 to 90° C.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition is a pH-treated tobacco composition, providing the starting tobacco composition comprises extruding a mixture comprising tobacco, base, and a wetting agent.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition is a reconstituted tobacco.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco material is granular.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source contains nicotine.

In some embodiments, the infused tobacco composition has a nicotine content higher than the starting tobacco composition.

In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the infused tobacco composition is from about 2% to about 5.5% by dry weight.

In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the starting tobacco composition is from 0.1% to 3% by dry weight.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source comprises tobacco. In some embodiments, the tobacco comprises cut tobacco, ground tobacco, leaf or tobacco leaf extract.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source comprises a botanical. In some embodiments, the botanical comprises clove, cinnamon, coffee, menthol, anise, lemon peels, mint, juniper, elderflower, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source consists of tobacco and/or one or more botanicals.

In some embodiments, treating either the starting tobacco composition or infused tobacco composition to raise the pH comprises addition of a base.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an infused tobacco composition obtainable from the method of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an aerosol delivery system comprising an infused tobacco composition obtained or obtainable from a method of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a component for use in an aerosol delivery system, comprising an infused tobacco composition obtained or obtainable from a method of the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example apparatus for carrying out an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another example apparatus for carrying out an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method according to an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another example method according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Nicotine and other aromatic compounds are responsible for tobacco flavor in tobacco. However, aromatic compounds in tobacco are volatile and may be lost during the process of producing and/or treating tobacco. Some may also be lost during storage or transportation.

In some tobacco compositions, pH-treated tobacco (such as base-treated tobacco) may be included. When preparing base-treated tobacco, the nicotine salt present in the untreated tobacco reacts with the base; this reaction provides the nicotine in its “free-base” form, thereby increasing its volatility. As a result, nicotine will be more readily volatilized upon heating base-treated tobacco. The present inventors have found, however, that treated tobacco such as pH-treated tobacco may have a less desirable flavor and off-notes. Moreover, the increased volatility of free-base nicotine may result in more nicotine being lost during storage or transportation of the tobacco composition. Other types of treatment of tobacco may also adversely affect the flavor of the tobacco.

In some embodiments, the infused tobacco composition may have improved sensory qualities. In some embodiments, the infused tobacco composition may have increased nicotine content.

The base-treatment of tobacco may involve the addition of a base in the form of a solution or solid. In embodiments where the tobacco is treated with a solution of a base, it may be necessary to include one or more drying steps. These drying steps reduce the moisture content to achieve a tobacco composition having a desired moisture content, but the drying steps may also remove aromatic compounds. The drying steps may also serve to remove ammonia which has been generated during the base treatment, but may not remove all of it. Ammonia has an undesirable taste and smell, and, without wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors consider that the presence of ammonia may contribute to the undesirable flavor and/or organoleptic qualities of pH-treated tobacco.

Surprisingly, the inventors have found that by infusing a tobacco composition with volatile components, a tobacco composition with superior taste, sensory and organoleptic properties may be obtained. This is particularly useful for improving the taste, sensory and organoleptic properties of a tobacco composition that has been treated and the treatment has adversely affected the sensory and/or organoleptic qualities of the tobacco composition, for instance a pH-treated tobacco composition.

Accordingly, in some embodiments described herein, a method is provided whereby properties, such as sensory and/or organoleptic qualities, of a pH-treated tobacco composition are improved. The in-use sensorial performance of an infused pH-treated tobacco composition prepared according to some methods described herein may provide a superior tobacco product.

As used herein, the term “tobacco composition” refers to any material comprising tobacco or derivatives thereof. The term “tobacco composition” may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco, agglomerated tobacco, spheronised tobacco and/or tobacco extract.

The tobacco in the tobacco composition may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental. The tobacco may be provided as particle ‘fines’ or dust, expanded tobacco, snus, stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled stems. The tobacco may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material. The reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibers, and may be formed by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition of tobacco extract, or by extrusion.

As used herein, the term “pH-treated tobacco composition” refers to any tobacco composition comprising tobacco that has been treated to have a pH different from an untreated tobacco. Preferably, the pH-treated tobacco composition has a pH which is higher than untreated tobacco (that is, the pH-treated tobacco is more basic than an untreated tobacco). In one embodiment, a pH-treated tobacco composition may comprise an infused tobacco composition which has a higher pH than an untreated tobacco.

As used herein, the term “infused tobacco composition” refers to any tobacco composition that has been infused with volatile components to impart sensory and/or organoleptic qualities to the tobacco composition. In one embodiment, the infused tobacco composition may comprise a pH-treated tobacco composition, wherein the tobacco composition has been treated to raise its pH, that has been infused with volatile components.

As used herein, the term “infused pH-treated tobacco composition” refers to any tobacco composition which has both been treated to raise its pH, and infused with volatile components, according to the methods disclosed herein. The tobacco composition may have been infused and pH-treated in any order. For example, in one embodiment, an infused pH-treated tobacco composition may comprise tobacco which has been treated to have a pH greater than an untreated tobacco, and then infused with volatile components. In another embodiment, an infused pH-treated tobacco composition may comprise tobacco which has been infused with volatile components, and then treated to have a pH greater than an untreated tobacco.

pH-Treatment of Tobacco

Treating tobacco or tobacco compositions with base results in an increase in the pH of the tobacco. The unadjusted pH of cured tobacco material before base treatment depends upon the type of tobacco, but is typically slightly acidic and is in the range of 3 to 6.5.

Although hereinafter the pH-treatment process is described for “tobacco”, it should be noted that the same process may be performed on any tobacco composition as defined herein.

In one embodiment, the process for treating tobacco to increase its pH comprises applying a base to the tobacco to be treated, for example by spraying a solution of base onto the tobacco. The mixture of the tobacco and the solution of base is then agitated, for example by mixing the mixture, to increase contact between the base and the tobacco. In some cases, the steps of applying the base and agitating the mixture may be repeated.

The base may comprise any suitable base. For example, the base may be selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and sodium phosphate.

In some embodiments, the base is in the form of a solution. The volume and concentration of the solution of base may be selected depending on the type of tobacco to be treated. In some embodiments, a sodium hydroxide solution having a concentration in the range of about 3.0 to about 9.0 mol/L is used.

In another embodiment, the process for treating tobacco to increase its pH may comprise applying a base in solid form to a tobacco to be treated, then combining the base and tobacco with a wetting agent. In some embodiments, solid particles of a base, such as sodium carbonate, is mixed with tobacco and then water and/or other wetting agents, such as glycerol, etc., are added to this dry mixture before or whilst the mixture is extruded.

The present inventors have identified that applying a base to the tobacco may generate ammonia, which has an undesirable taste/smell. Therefore, in some instances the pH-treatment may involve a step which removes ammonia, for example by gently heating and/or drying the mixture. In other instances, no ammonia removal step is included. In some cases, the removal of ammonia comprises heating and drying the tobacco composition after applying the base to produce pH-treated tobacco with a desired moisture content, for example no more than about 20% based on dry weight.

The process may also comprise treating the tobacco either before or after applying the solution of base to obtain a desired particle size, for example by grinding the tobacco composition, and then optionally selecting the particles with a size within the desired particle size range (i.e. by sieving).

Treating the tobacco such that the pH is raised, typically to around 7.5 to 10.5, and optionally to around 8 to 9.5, results in higher nicotine availability. This is due to at least some nicotine salt (sometimes called “bound nicotine”) being converted to its basic form (sometimes referred to herein as “free base nicotine” or simply “free nicotine”). This increases the volatility of nicotine such that it is more readily released from tobacco. A smoking device containing pH-treated tobacco heated to a given temperature may thus deliver a higher dosage of nicotine to the user compared to a device containing only untreated tobacco when heated to the same temperature.

The pH-treatment of the tobacco may be performed at any stage in a process of producing and/or treating tobacco. In some instances, applying the solution of base to the tobacco may occur during another step, for example during conditioning of the tobacco.

In some embodiments, the pH-treated tobacco composition has a pH of 7 or more, 7.5 or more, 8 or more, 9 or more. In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a pH of 12 or less, 11.5 or less, 11 or less, 10.5 or less, 10 or less. In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a pH of about 7, about 8, about 9.

An example of a standard method used for measuring the pH of a tobacco composition is CORESTA Recommended Method No. 69 (CRM-69).

Typically, the nicotine content of a pH-treated tobacco composition may be from 1 to 5%, from 2 to 3%, or about 3% by dry weight. However, nicotine and other aromatic volatile compounds may also be lost during storage or transportation, resulting in a lower concentration of nicotine when delivered to a user.

Starting Tobacco Material

The method of providing an infused tobacco composition comprises providing a starting tobacco composition. The starting tobacco composition may comprise tobacco as described herein. Optionally this starting tobacco composition has been pH-treated. Suitably, the starting tobacco composition may comprise additives conventionally added during the process of producing or treating tobacco, including but not limited to, flavorants, aerosol generating agents, binders, wetting agents, bases and the like.

As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder.

The tobacco in the starting tobacco composition may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental. It may also be tobacco particle ‘fines’ or dust, expanded tobacco, stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled stems. The tobacco may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material. The reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibers, and may be formed by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition of tobacco extract, or by extrusion. In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition is provided in granular form.

The starting tobacco composition of the present method may be a tobacco composition comprising tobacco at any stage of the production process for producing a tobacco product. For example, before grinding or extrusion of the tobacco composition. In some cases, the starting tobacco composition has undergone grinding but has not been extruded. In another case, the starting tobacco composition has undergone both grinding and extrusion. The starting tobacco composition may or may not be pretreated according to known practices, such as drying, curing, conditioning and so on. In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition is untreated.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition does not contain pH-treated tobacco. In such cases, the nicotine content of the starting tobacco composition may depend upon the type of tobacco, and typically be from about 0.1 to about 6%, from about 2 to about 5%, or about 4% by dry weight.

In other embodiments, the starting tobacco composition comprises tobacco which has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, and may be performed according to the pH-treatment process described herein. In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition has a pH of 7 or more, 7.5 or more, 8 or more, 8.5 or more, 9 or more. In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition has a pH of less than 12, less than 11.5, less than 11, less than 10.5 less than 10. In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition has a pH of from 8 to 9.5, 8.5 to 9, about 8, about 9.

In some embodiments, the starting tobacco composition which comprises tobacco that has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco will have a nicotine content of from 0 to 5%, from 1 to 4%, from 2 to 3%, less than 5%, less than 4%, less than 3%, or about 3% by dry weight.

Volatile Component Source

The method of providing an infused tobacco composition further comprises providing a volatile component source. As used herein, the term “volatile component source” refers to a substance having volatile components which, when supplied to a tobacco composition, may impart properties to the starting tobacco composition, such as taste, sensory, organoleptic qualities, or combinations thereof. Volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize, and the volatility of a substance is directly related to its vapor pressure. The term “volatilization” is intended to also include the sublimation of components from a volatile component source.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source comprises a botanical. In some embodiments, the volatile component source consists of a botanical. The botanical may be heated to, and/or maintained at, a temperature within a range of 40 to 150° C. to release its volatile components. Any botanical which has volatile components that could improve the aroma and/or flavor of the infused tobacco composition may be used. Examples of suitable botanicals include without limitation: clove, cinnamon, coffee, menthol, anise, lemon peels, mint, juniper, elderflower, or any combinations thereof. The botanical may be provided as a solid, liquid, pressurized liquid or gaseous extract.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source may comprise tobacco. The tobacco may be any suitable tobacco as described herein. In some embodiments, the volatile component source consists of tobacco.

In some embodiments, the volatile component course may comprise nicotine. In a particular example, the volatile component comprising nicotine contains tobacco. In other examples, the volatile component comprising nicotine may comprise a nicotine solution, such as tobacco extract.

In some embodiments, the volatile component source comprises tobacco and one or more botanicals. In some embodiments, the volatile component source consists of tobacco and one or more botanicals. The volatile component source may or may not contain nicotine.

Process of Infusing a Tobacco Composition

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations of example apparatus 100, 200 suitable for carrying out an aspect of the invention, and comprise a heating chamber 110 and a cooling chamber 120, the cooling chamber 120 fluidly connected to the heating chamber 110 via a conduit 130.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow diagrams illustrating example methods 300 and 400 of providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition.

In FIG. 3 , the method 300 of providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition comprises providing a pH-treated starting tobacco composition 301, wherein the starting tobacco composition comprises tobacco which has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco. The method 300 further comprises providing a volatile component source 302 corresponding to the volatile components source as described hereinabove. The method 300 further comprises heating the volatile component source 303 and infusing the pH-treated starting tobacco composition to provide the infused pH-treated tobacco composition 304.

In FIG. 4 , the method 400 of providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition comprises providing a starting tobacco composition 401 and providing a volatile component source 402, the volatile component source corresponding to the volatile component source as described hereinabove. The method 400 further comprises heating the volatile component source 403, and infusing the starting tobacco composition with the volatilized components, thereby providing an infused tobacco composition 404. The method 400 further comprises treating the infused tobacco composition to raise its pH 405 to provide the infused pH-treated tobacco composition.

The process of infusing the starting tobacco composition with volatilized components may be performed at any stage in a process of producing and/or treating a tobacco composition. The infusion process may occur before or after curing of the tobacco, for example. In the examples described herein, the infusion process may be performed either before or after a pH-treatment step of the tobacco composition.

The method of providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition comprises heating the volatile component source to provide volatilized components 303, 403. The temperature to which the volatile component source is heated may be selected depending on the composition of the volatile component source. For example, the volatile component source may be heated to a temperature within 30° C., within 20° C., within 10° C., or within 5° C. of the boiling temperature of the desired volatile component to be delivered to the starting tobacco composition. As the volatile component source is heated to a particular temperature, volatile components within the volatile component source that have a boiling temperature close to or below that particular temperature will become substantially volatilized.

In some embodiments, volatile component source may be heated to a temperature at which the volatile components are volatilized and released from the volatile component source. In some embodiments, the volatile component source may be heated to from 30 to 150° C., from 35 to 140° C., from 40 to 130° C., from 40 to 120° C., from 40 to 110° C., from 40 to 100° C., from 40 to 90° C. Suitably, the volatile component source is heated to from 40° C. to 90° C. If the temperature is too low, there will not be sufficient heat to vaporize the desired volatile components. Conversely, if the temperature is too high, undesirable burning or charring of the volatile component (or other materials) may occur.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the volatile component source may be varied over time, for example, the method may comprise heating a botanical to a first temperature to release a first volatile component for a period of time, and subsequently heating to a second temperature higher than the first for a period of time to release a second volatile component, the second volatile component having a boiling point higher than the first volatile component. Further, multiple steps of heating the volatile component multiple times to multiple temperatures may allow components to volatilize separately. As well as varying the temperature of the volatile component source, the humidity, flow rate, pressure, duration of the process, level of agitation of the volatile component source during heating may also be varied depending on the volatile component source. In some embodiments, the volatile component source may be heated for a duration of from 1 to 4 hours, or from 2 to 4 hours. In further embodiments, multiple batches of volatile component source are applied to a single batch of starting tobacco composition. The multiple batches may comprise different volatile materials. For example, the first batch may be tobacco and the second batch clove.

During heating, the volatile component source may be held in a heating chamber 110, for example. A heater raises the temperature of the heating chamber 110; the heater can be driven in any suitable way. In some cases, the heating chamber 110 may be electrically heated. In other cases, the heating chamber 110 may be steam heated. Any apparatus suitable for heating may be used to apply the heat to the contents of the heating chamber 110, including but not limited to a heat jacket, heat mat, heating mantle, and the like. The heat applied to the heating chamber 110 is preferably sufficient as to prevent condensation of the volatilized components within the heating chamber 110.

In some instances, the pressure of the heating chamber 110 may be reduced to have a pressure less than atmospheric pressure in addition to the heating to encourage vaporization of the volatile components at temperatures much lower than their boiling point at atmospheric pressure; this may also allow for components which would be prone to deterioration under high temperatures to be volatilized without adverse effects.

After heating the volatile component source to provide volatilized components, the method of providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition comprises infusing the starting tobacco composition with the volatilized components 304, 404, thereby retaining at least some volatile components in the starting tobacco composition to provide an infused tobacco composition.

As used herein, the term “infusing” refers to the process of supplying components or flavors to a composition, thereby providing an infused composition wherein at least some of the components are retained in the infused composition.

The apparatus for carrying out the method may allow for the volatilized components to be supplied to the starting tobacco composition in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the volatilized components may traverse a conduit 130 such that the volatilized components move from the heating chamber 110 to a cooling chamber 120.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the conduit 130 may be arranged with the heating chamber 110 and cooling chamber 120 such that the volatilized components are conveyed by the heat from the heating chamber 110 towards the cooling chamber 120 via the conduit 130, for example, with the conduit 130 and cooling chamber 120 arranged above the heating chamber 110 such that the thermal energy of the volatilized components causes motion of the volatilized components in the direction of the cooling chamber 120. In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 , the conduit 130 is tubing and the heating chamber 110 and cooling chamber 120 may therefore be arranged differently. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the conduit 130 in two arrangements, these are for illustrative purposes only and other arrangements can be envisaged as long as the conduit 130 fluidly couples the heating chamber 110 to the cooling chamber 120.

In some embodiments, the conduit 130 may also comprise a means for conveying the volatilized components along the conduit 130, including but not limited to, a fan, a pump, a vacuum system, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the conduit 130 may be a gas-permeable interface between the heating chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120, such as a gas-permeable membrane.

The starting tobacco composition is situated in the cooling chamber 120. Upon conveying the volatilized components to the cooling chamber 120, the temperature of the cooling chamber 120 causes the volatilized components to contact the starting tobacco composition and optionally condense on the tobacco composition. In some embodiments, supplying the volatilized components to the pH-treated tobacco may be performed under increased pressure to further promote condensation; that is, the cooling chamber 120 may be held at a pressure greater than the pressure of the heating chamber 110. In some embodiments, the cooling chamber may be held at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. As the volatilized components condense, the starting tobacco composition becomes infused with the volatilized components such that at least some of the volatilized components are retained in the starting tobacco composition, thereby providing an infused tobacco composition. In this way, once volatilized components are retained within the starting tobacco composition, the infused tobacco composition which is produced will comprise condensed volatilized components and will have some of the properties of the volatilized components imparted onto it, for example taste, sensory or organoleptic properties.

If the starting tobacco composition comprises tobacco which has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, the infused tobacco composition will be an infused pH-treated tobacco composition. Alternatively, if the starting tobacco composition does not comprise any tobacco which has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, the infused tobacco composition will not comprise any pH-treated tobacco, but will subsequently be treated to raise its pH to provide an infused pH-treated tobacco composition.

Suitably, the temperature of the cooling chamber 120 may be selected according to the character of the volatile components supplied to the cooling chamber 120. Preferably, the temperature of the cooling chamber 120 will be lower than the boiling temperature of the desired volatile components within the volatile component source (at the desired pressure). In some embodiments the temperature of the cooling chamber 120 may be from -10° C. to 60° C., from -5° C. to 50° C., from 0° C. to 40° C., from 0° C. to 30° C., or about 25° C., or about 20° C. The method may also include cooling means to prevent the temperature of the cooling chamber 120 from rising above a pre-determined value, including a cooling fan or a water-cooling system such as a condenser, for example. In some embodiments one or more thermostat may be used to monitor and/or control both the temperature of the heating chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 and heating means or cooling means may be selectively applied to maintain the target temperatures of each.

In some embodiments, agitation of the starting tobacco composition may occur during infusion of the starting tobacco composition to allow for homogeneous coverage of the starting tobacco composition with the volatilized components. The cooling chamber 120 may therefore also include a mixer, such as a rotary mixer, for example. In some embodiments, the cooling chamber itself is rotated via a motor to tumble the starting tobacco composition.

If, upon providing the infused tobacco composition, the starting tobacco composition used was not a pH-treated tobacco composition which comprises tobacco that has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, the infused tobacco composition may be subsequently treated to raise its pH using the methods described herein to provide an infused pH-treated tobacco composition.

During the process of producing and/or treating tobacco, volatile compounds including aromatic compounds contributing to the tobacco flavor and nicotine may be lost, resulting in a tobacco composition with reduced or low levels of the aromatic compounds and/or nicotine. In the case where a tobacco composition has undergone a pH-treatment process, the chemical composition and sensory qualities of the tobacco may be affected by the lack of aromatic compounds and by the presence of ammonia (which may provide the tobacco composition with an undesirable taste/smell). In addition, after pH-treatment of tobacco, the nicotine which has been made more volatile as free nicotine may be lost during treatment and/or storage of the pH-treated tobacco composition, resulting in a lower overall nicotine content when delivered to a user.

In some embodiments described herein, the volatile component source may comprise a nicotine-containing component (such as tobacco). In such a case, a method described herein may also allow for the nicotine content of a tobacco composition to be increased. That is, the volatile component supplied to the starting tobacco composition may comprise nicotine. As a result, the infused tobacco composition will have a nicotine content higher than the starting tobacco composition. A tobacco composition prepared according to the present method may therefore offset the reduction in nicotine content which arises during treatment and/or storage of the tobacco composition, such that the nicotine content delivered to the user is within a desired range. In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the tobacco composition may be increased by an amount of from 1 to 4%, from 2 to 3% by dry weight. In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the infused pH-treated tobacco composition is from 3 to 7%, from 4 to 6%, about 5% by dry weight.

Infused pH-Treated Tobacco Composition

As described hereinabove, in some embodiments, the nicotine content of the infused pH-treated tobacco composition is from about 2% to about 5.5%, or from about 2.5 to about 5%, or from about 3 to about 4% by dry weight. In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the infused pH-treated tobacco composition is from about 0.1 to about 3% higher than the nicotine content of the pH-treated tobacco composition before it is infused, and optionally from about 0.5 to about 2.5% higher, or from about 1 to about 2% higher.

In some embodiments, the infused pH-treated tobacco composition has a moisture content of no more than about 40%, no more than about 30%, or no more than about 20% based on the dry weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the moisture content is the water content of the tobacco composition as determined, for example, by gas chromatography. In other embodiments, the moisture content refers to the oven volatiles, measured as the reduction in mass when a sample is dried in a forced draft oven at a temperature regulated to 110° C. ± 1° C. for three hours ± 0.5 minutes. In such embodiments, the moisture content of the infused pH-treated tobacco composition may have a moisture content of up to about 50% (dry weight basis). In some embodiments, the infused pH-treated tobacco composition has a moisture content of less than 15%, less than 14%, less than 13%, less than 12%, less than 11%, less than 10% by dry weight. The moisture content described herein is such that the infused pH-treated tobacco composition is suitable for use in an aerosol generating device, such as a heat-not-burn device.

In some embodiments, the infused pH-treated tobacco composition is used to provide a dose of inhalable nicotine of 0.01 mg or more, 0.015 mg or more, 0.02 mg or more, 0.025 mg or more, 0.03 mg or more per gram of tobacco based on the Coresta Recommended Method CRM-81 “Routine analytical machine for e-cigarette aerosol generation and collection - definitions and standard conditions” (of June 2015).

In some embodiments, the infused pH-treated tobacco composition described herein may have, during use, an improved taste/flavor when compared to a pH-treated tobacco composition which has not been infused.

Devices

The infused pH-treated tobacco composition described herein may be incorporated into a device. In some embodiments, the device is an aerosol generating device or an aerosol delivery system, such as a heat-not-burn device. In other embodiments, the device is an aerosol delivery system such as an e-cigarette or a hybrid aerosol generating device.

In one embodiment, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolizable material is not a requirement.

In one embodiment, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is a tobacco heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system.

In one embodiment, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolizable materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosolizable materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and an article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision system. However, it is envisaged that articles which themselves comprise a means for powering an aerosol generating component may themselves form the non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In one embodiment, the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In one embodiment, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energized so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosolizable material or heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source. In one embodiment, the power source, such as an exothermic power source, is provided in the article so as to form the non-combustible aerosol provision.

In one embodiment, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise an aerosolizable material.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future. 

1. A method of providing an infused tobacco composition, the method comprising: (a) providing a starting tobacco composition; (b) providing a volatile component source; (c) heating the volatile component source to provide volatilized components; and (d) infusing the starting tobacco composition with the volatilized components, thereby retaining at least some volatile components in the starting tobacco composition to provide an infused tobacco composition; wherein either: the starting tobacco composition is a treated tobacco composition and the treatment has adversely affected the sensory and/or organoleptic qualities of the tobacco composition or the infused tobacco material is treated and the treatment adversely affects the sensory and/or organoleptic qualities of the tobacco composition.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated tobacco material is a pH-treated tobacco composition.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein either: the starting tobacco composition is a pH-treated tobacco composition which comprises tobacco that has been treated to have a pH greater than untreated tobacco, such that the infused tobacco composition provided in (d) is an infused pH-treated tobacco composition; or the infused tobacco composition of (d) is treated to raise the pH of the infused tobacco composition, thereby providing an infused pH-treated tobacco composition.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein in (c) the volatile component source is heated from 40 to 90° C.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein, where the starting tobacco composition is a pH-treated tobacco composition, providing the starting tobacco composition comprises extruding a mixture comprising tobacco, base, and a wetting agent.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting tobacco composition is a reconstituted tobacco.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting tobacco material is granular.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile component source contains nicotine.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the infused tobacco composition has a nicotine content higher than the starting tobacco composition.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the nicotine content of the infused tobacco composition is from about 2% to about 5.5% by dry weight.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the nicotine content of the starting tobacco composition is from 0.1% to 3% by dry weight.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile component source comprises tobacco.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tobacco comprises cut tobacco, ground tobacco, leaf or tobacco leaf extract.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile component source comprises a botanical.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the botanical comprises clove, cinnamon, coffee, menthol, anise, lemon peels, mint, juniper, elderflower, or a combination thereof.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile component source consists of tobacco and/or one or more botanicals.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein treating either the starting tobacco composition or infused tobacco composition to raise the pH comprises addition of a base.
 18. An infused tobacco composition obtainable from the method of claim
 1. 19. An aerosol delivery system comprising an infused tobacco composition obtained or obtainable from the method of claim
 1. 20. A component for use in an aerosol delivery system, comprising an infused tobacco composition obtained or obtainable from the method of claim
 1. 